have always loved the placement of the Odd chair or the Accent seater that livens up what normally is a predictable sofa seating arrangement in the Living room. It’s kind of brings out a whimsical tone to the room. Whether upholstered in print or plain or even with patchwork, choices are a plenty. While we do see a lot of designs around the world, I have decided to showcase a few from my favorite stores, in Chennai, Bangalore and of course Kerala.
Before that, a cute preview of the origins of some of these accent pieces sourced from:
https://www.onekingslane.com/live-love-home/guide-to-accent-chairs-by-style/
THE CLUB CHAIR
KEY FEATURES:
An upholstered, roomy armchair with extra-deep seats, perfect for curling up with a book. As accent chairs go,
this one is most likely to be filled with a happy (and perhaps snoozing) occupant.
FREQUENTLY SPOTTED:
In pairs making up a cozy nook or as the ideal companion alongside a living room sofa.
MOST LIKELY TO:
Have leather upholstery or nail-head trim (or both).
FUN FACTOID:
The club chair’s name often connects it to gentleman’s clubs, but it originated in the chic design studios of France under the name fauteuil comfortable. Translation: comfy chair.
THE SLIPPER CHAIR
KEY ATTRIBUTES:
Armless, upholstered accent chair with a
petite silhouette and a seat that’s likely
closer to the ground than you’re used to.
If space is a scarce resource around your
home, a slipper is a great option.
FREQUENTLY SPOTTED:
As extra seating next to a coffee table,
particularly in small apartments, or
prettying up the boudoir as a duo at the end of the bed.
MOST LIKELY TO:
Be the seat of choice for anyone who’s
petite. The low seat height can make
them a somewhat awkward affair for tall people with legs for days.
FUN FACTOID:
It was the 18th-century and Victorian era need among ladies for an easy chair to get in and out of when slipping on shoes that landed this accent chair it’s name.
THE OCCASIONAL CHAIR
KEY ATTRIBUTES:
These accents chairs run the gamut in terms of shape and style, but the one common
denominator is that they’re lightweight and easy to move when the need, or “occasion,”
for more seating arises. Most are armless due to the weight factor.
FREQUENTLY SPOTTED:
Anywhere and everywhere, which is the beauty of this type of accent chair.
MOST LIKELY TO:
Have an especially eye-catching or shapely design. Because occasional chairs need to
function anywhere in the home, they typically
bring the entire design “moment” with them
wherever they go.
NOTABLE MVP:
The Chiavari chair is one you’ve likely sat on during a fancy wedding, but it’s also one of the most widely used occasional chairs thanks to
its sinuous silhouette and ultra-lightweight design.
THE WINGBACK CHAIR
KEY ATTRIBUTES:
An easy-to-spot accent chair thanks to its signature winged sides and typically tall back.
The generous size of a Wingback makes it an
ideal counterpart to a large sofa, since it can give the room a sense of balance in scale.
FREQUENTLY SPOTTED:
Perched next to a fireplace. Protecting the inhabitant from drafts and the heat from a
roaring fire was the original purpose of the chair’s side wings, and some things, like winter, never change.
OUR FAVORITE UNEXPECTED USE:
As end chairs at the head and foot of a dining table. There’s something undeniably throne like about the stately shaped of wingback chairs, and as dining chairs they give meals added
gravitas.
MOST LIKELY TO:
Stay put in its designated spot. The size and heft of most wingback chairs means they’re not the easiest to move when there’s a need for extra seating during a party.
THE BERGÈRE
KEY ATTRIBUTES:
The regal lines of a bergère are easy to spot thanks to its exposed wooden frame
surrounding an upholstered seat and back. The loose seat cushion is what keeps it from feeling overly formal.
FREQUENTLY SPOTTED:
Used in pairs opposite a sofa or tucked into the corner of a bedroom with a matching ottoman.
OUR FAVORITE UNEXPECTED USE:
Adding an air of elegance to especially contemporary rooms. Their ability to fit in
anywhere speaks to the timelessness of these accent chairs.
FUN FACTOID:
Bergères first gained popularity as a part of palace life among 17th-century French nobility,
but they’re also part of stateside “palace” life,
with a notable number used in the White House.
SCULPTURAL CHAIR
The last type of Accent Chair
to know is the least
comfortable, but perhaps the
most visually interesting.
SCULPTURAL CHAIRS are
Accent chairs that have a
unique and interesting form.
These types of chairs may have
Metal or Wood Arms and Legs,
offering a sleek and sharp
Silhouette.
Source: https://curatedinterior.com/accent-chairs/
Accent chairs are a truly a design miracle. They are both stylish and functional and can be used in virtually every room in the house. No need to choose fashion over function or vice versa when it comes to the
décor solutions an accent chair offers.
Source: Brandsource
What about playing the mix and match trend around the dining room table to add a touch of whimsy?
Source: Ana Donahue Interiors on Houzz
Accent chairs can be placed in different settings in your home. You could use an accent chair as additional seating. “Whether in your living room or you could place one in an empty corner of your home and create a little reading nook. I created this in a bedroom and it doubles up as neat way of keeping the bed cover or even clothes. The options are limitless”
I hope you create your own special nook!!
